He stumbled to the remains of a wall, supporting himself as he caught his breath. He blinked and tried to focus, but the pain from his lungs was making his vision blur and spin. He coughed and fell to his knees, hands covering his mouth as if such a simple act might keep his blood inside his body. The crimson liquid dripped from between his fingers as another cough racked his frame.
He knew he had hours. Maybe minutes, really. Who knew? He had postponed his fate for centuries, but it seemed the end was in sight at last. A third cough forced him to reach out and hold himself off the ground with his arms, panting as his hair fell like a curtain, shielding him from seeing the destruction around him.
It wasn't so bad, really. He had done a lot of good in his borrowed time. He had taken many of the youngest Shinigami into his division and taught them the values and skills that had kept many of them alive. He had enjoyed the dearest friendship any man could ever hope to have. His only regret was that he would not be able to say goodbye to Shunsui. Most likely, the man was in the Soul King's Palace. Hopefully, his dying act had made a difference, and the worlds would not fall to ruin for lack of a keystone.
A gentle hand on his shoulder made him look up between coughs, searching for the Riatsu of his friend. Instead, he found another familiar figure. The former captain of the Twelvth Division. Kisuke Urahara.
"I have a way to save you, but the cost is quite high. I would understand if you would rather go to your peace now, but if you still wish to fight, I can give you a way." Kisuke's voice was gentle and warm, the hand on the older man's shoulder radiating healing Kidou that would allow him the breath to answer.
"If I may have another life to give to protect this world… What is the cost?" Juushiro blinked away the tears that the last round of coughing had forced into his eyes.
"You must become a Visored. Once you begin to undergo Hollowfication, your lungs will be regenerated. Afterward, if you are able to overcome your inner hollow, then you will be able to rejoin the battle. I must warn you though, without the Hogyoku, there is a very real possibility that the dual nature of your soul will tear you apart, in time."
"I accept… Promise me… If I fail, and I become a hollow, you must kill me. Do not allow me to endanger anyone else, and… Do not make Shunsui be the one to purify me."
"I promise." Kisuke held out his other hand, opening gloved fingers and allowing a small sphere to fall on to the exposed skin of Ukitake's back.
Juushiro awoke with a start, slowing his breathing as he recognized his surroundings. He was back in the Thirteenth Division. The memories of the night his life had changed still kept him up at night occasionally, but it was a low price for being able to see Soul Society survive the war. As he thought about the changes that had taken place in the last century, he smiled. Survived and flourished, no denying that.
"Captain Ukitake! Captain Kyoraku and Captain Kurosaki are here!" Kiyone's voice drifted through the door and he shook his head. A few things never changed, and he could never express how happy he was to know that.
"Tell them I will meet them in the garden shortly!" He slid out of his bed and stretched, breathing deep and allowing himself to grin with unbridled joy as his longs effortlessly filled with air. Urahara had been as good as his word. The scientist could work miracles when he put his mind to it. Juushiro was not the only one to have survived the war thanks to that man, nor even the only one to have voluntarily undergone hollowfication.
Three quarters of the Eleventh Division, and the Captain of the Tenth had all been revived thanks to the gamble of one scientist.